Cafes, Shops and other Food Outlets

Plastic has become the material of choice for shopping bags, straws, takeaway containers and cutlery, and these items are designed for a single use. Used for just a few minutes, they are made from a material designed to last forever and are a growing problem.

Though plastic packaging is often considered a 'cheap' option, the hidden costs of dealing with plastic waste are the disposal, recycling, litter cleanups and environmental impacts (plastic packaging is the most commonly found item in beach cleanups worldwide).

​Whether you are a business owner, work in a food outlet or other store, or are a customer these resources will help local businesses to reduce plastics.

Step 3: REUSE - Replace disposables with reusables. Businesses can provide reusables for in-store dining, as well as encouraging customers to bring their own reusable shopping bags, coffee cups and containers for takeaway purchases. Offer the cardboard boxes that goods come in for customers to carry out their purchases. Serve condiments such as butter, jam, sugar etc in individual plastic packaging but use reusable dispensers - and avoid food waste too.

Our resource list can get you started finding reusables.

Step 4: RECYCLE - Whilst reducing and reusing are the most important solutions, sometimes disposables may be unavoidable. Finding the 'best' alternatives to single-use plastic isn't always straightforward. Start by substituting harmful plastic packaging (such as polystyrene foam) with disposable products that can be recycled by waste facilities in your area. Our resource list will help get you started.

STEP 5: REACH OUT - share your efforts by telling your story to local media and social media (don't forgot to tag @PlasticFreeJuly so we can share too!). As well as positive publicity for your business your efforts will inspire others!

​There are also many voluntary initiatives spreading through local retailers. Join these Plastic Free July community advocates and ask your local retailers to adopt:

Bring one, get one tree (reusable cups)

Creative initiative encouraging reusable cups developed by Plastic Free July in Perth's western suburbs.Local cafes sign up and encourage customers to bring reusable cups for takeaway coffees; between us we promote the scheme, and the cafes record how many customers bring reusable cups during July.

At the month end simply tally up the results from participating cafés and for each reusable cup used (and disposable cup saved) we donate a native plant to revegetation projects and planting days in the local community.

It has since been run by groups, councils and universities in other locations and overseas resulting in 7,000 trees planted (and cups and lids avoided)! If you want to run Bring one, get one tree in your local area, all of our graphic design resources are freely available. You will need to source the plants and engage cafes.

An initiative for cafes to reduce or eliminate disposable coffee cups by offering a discount to customers with reusable takeaway cups. The program connects thoughtful cafes with conscious consumers with cafes either participating directly or councils can team up with Responsible Cafes for the tools and platform to communicate to cafes. Find out more and get involved.

Read our Cocos Islands case study to find out how Responsible Cafes was part of the Island's efforts to tackle plastic waste.